Elizabethian Essays: S is for Sheep

Sheep feeding in green pastures are a big part of Faroese life. In fact the population of sheep doubles the population of people!

Lots of men with full time jobs farm sheep on the weekends and holidays. Sheep are seen grazing on the mountains year round and give the people wool and meat in return.

Shelter for the sheep during strong winds.

Sheep crossing

These sheep seem to defy the laws of gravity as they graze on steep slopes. No matter how high one gets in the mountains or how inaccessible the ledge, sheep can be found there.

Slaughter Time in the Fall

Each autumn some 40,000 sheep are rounded up for slaughter. Ragnar has been involved several times on our Home Assignments. This past fall, I followed them around to watch the process, which was quite a learning experience.

Immediately the carcass is hung up to dry in the shed (with trellised walls) and will be ready to eat in 2 months time.

Enjoying Mutton in Numerous Ways
Even with so many sheep on the islands, with it being one of their favorite foods, they still import meat from New Zealand and Iceland.

Dried Mutton - Dried, unsalted mutton is known as the favorite national food. When I first went to the Faroes in 1978, it was found on every table in every home, every night at 6:00 - and basically still is. I remember one night a neighbour had invited us all to have supper with her. She had gone to lots of work and had many appetizing dishes on the table. The first thing both Ragnar and his mother reached for was a slice of rye bread and dried mutton. Ragnar still continues to really enjoy it every day we are in the Faroes.

Sheep head is also a common meal in the fall. The skull is divided in two and the whole thing put in a large pot of water to boil. At the end of the meal the bones are bare - even the eyeballs have been eaten.